By: Miguel Caramoan
Ivan Panapanaan sank the game-winning basket at the buzzer as Jose Rizal University pulled off a thrilling 79–77 victory over Arellano University in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
With the game tied in the dying seconds, Arellano’s Mav Vinoya missed a potential go-ahead jumper.
Seizing the opportunity, Sean Salvador quickly pushed the ball in transition. He found a wide-open Panapanaan streaking down the court, who calmly drained the buzzer-beater to seal the win for the Heavy Bombers.
Arellano dominated the first half through their relentless work on the offensive glass, hauling down 18 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points. Joseph Hernal stood out early with eight points and seven boards.
However, the Heavy Bombers countered behind the backcourt duo of Shawn Argente and Sean Salvador, who combined for 24 points to give JRU a 41-37 advantage heading into halftime.
The Chiefs roared back in the third quarter, riding Ernest Geronimo’s 11 points to outscore JRU, 26-18, and seize a 63-59 lead entering the final frame.
Up 67-61 early in the fourth, Arellano seemed in control until Salvador ignited a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer at the 7:35 mark, putting the Heavy Bombers ahead, 68-67.
The game turned into a seesaw battle from there. Geronimo hit a clutch basket to give Arellano a 76-73 lead with 1:33 left, but Stephen Garupil responded with a cold-blooded triple to tie it at 76 with 35.7 seconds remaining.
Both squads traded free throws — Vinoya for Arellano and Argente for JRU — setting up the final 77-all sequence that led to Panapanaan’s heroics.
“Me and the coaching staff were very happy sa pinapakita ng mga bata, pero kasi nakikita naman namin sila sa practice, yung blending ng beterano and mga rookies namin napakaganda. Kumbaga, yung role acceptance ng mga players ko talagang inembrace na nila,” said Heavy Bombers head coach Nani Epondulan, referring to the team chemistry displayed in Salvador’s assist to Panapanaan.
Argente led the Heavy Bombers with 21 points, 15 of which came in the first half, while Salvador came off the bench to contribute 19 points on a 50% shooting clip, alongside five rebounds and three assists.
The win improved JRU’s record to 5-4, tying them with Letran for third place in Group B—just a game behind co-leaders San Beda and Benilde.
“With this type of game, talagang napapabilis yung maturity ng team namin. So I was just so thankful na until the end yung mga players ko, yung mga beterano ko na sila Shawn Argente, Panapanaan, and Garupil na until the last second naniwala sila sa gusto ko pagawa,” Epondulan added, praising his squad’s growing maturity.
The Heavy Bombers will look to break the Group B deadlock when they face Letran on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Meanwhile, Arellano dropped its third straight game to fall to 3-6 but remains third in Group A.
Hernal nearly had a flawless performance with 17 points and nine rebounds on 8-of-9 shooting, while Renzo Abiera added 15. Geronimo tallied all 14 of his points in the second half.
The Chiefs will aim to halt their skid when they take on the Mapua Cardinals on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
Jose Rizal 79 – Argente 21, Salvador 19, Laurenaria 12, Garupil 10, Panapanaan 4, Castillo 4, Herrera 3, Duque 2, Benitez 2, Penaverde 2, Sarmiento 0
Arellano 77 – Hernal 17, Abiera 15, Geronimo 14, Vinoya 11, Ongotan 9, Valencia 5, Cabotaje 2, Demetria 2, Buenaventura 2, Langit 0, Borromeo 0, Miller 0
Quarterscores: 18-19, 41-37, 59-63, 79-77
